Trolling device



June 12, 1956 l. L. SLANE 2,749,652

TROLLING DEVICE Filed Dec. 23, 1952 JNVENTOR. lEV/N 1.. s1. 4N5,

.4 rraems'rs.

TROLLING DEVICE Irvin Lee Slane, Chelsea, Mich.

Application December 23, 1952, Serial No. 327,508

2 Claims. Cl. 43-44.82)

This invention relates to a trolling device, and more particularly, has reference to a device of the character referred to that includes a pair of oppositely extended torsion arms adapted to yield when an obstruction is encountered thereby.

The desirability of a trolling device which will have yieldable portions of the type indicated is Well appreciated, since the trolling device tends to become snagged in weeds or the like, during use. In view of this tendency found in conventional trolling devices, I'pro-pose to provide a generally improved hook supporting means to be used in trolling, that will be specially adapted to resist snagging on weeds or submerged objects.

Another object of importance is to provide a device of the type stated wherein the yieldable arms on which the hooks are mounted will be projected laterally in opposite directions from a centrally disposed drum, said drum being adapted for connection to a leader 'or fishing line, each of the torsion arms being yieldable independently of the other, and being adapted to return to their normal, laterally projected positions when the obstruction has been passed.

Yet another object is to provide a trolling device of the type stated in which means will be embodied in the drum for limiting movement of the torsion arms in op posite directions, thus to prevent said arms from shifting under the pressure of an obstruction encountered thereby beyond a critical point that would result in breakage of the device, the limiting means embodied in the device being further adapted to normally hold the arms in longitudinal alignment, in positions in which they are disposed normally to the path of movement of the device.

Yet another object is to provide a trolling device as stated which will be so designed as to permit the use, on the torsion arms, of either conventional or Weedless hooks, said hooks being so disposed as to be safeguarded against fouling on weeds or obstructions, the hooks being further so disposed as to cause the same to be taken by a fish striking the lure.

Yet another object is to provide a device of the type stated which can be readily manufactured from plastic or other non-corrosive material, at a relatively low cost, considering the benefits to be obtained from the use thereof.

Other objects will appear from the following description, the claims appended thereto, and from the annexed drawing, in which like reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views, and Where- 1n:

Figure l is a side elevation view of a trolling device formed in accordance With the present invention, the full lines indicating the normal position of the torsion arms, the dotted lines indicating a position to which said arms can swing when an obstruction is encountered thereby;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view, taken from the right of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken diametrinited States Patent "ice Patented June 12, 1956 cally through the device, substantially on line 33 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken diametrically through the device in a plane normal to the plane in which the device is viewed in Figure 3, portions being broken away; and

Figure 5 is an enlarged partial perspective view with the drum removed taken from the left of the assembly of Figure 3.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the illustrated device 25 comprises a drum 10 of cylindrical formation, said drum being provided, in the illustrated embodiment of the invention, with an axial bore 12 opening at opposite ends of the drum. The drum 10 can be readily molded or otherwise formed from plastic material or the like.

A partition or divider 14 is formed upon the periphery of the drum 10 medially between the opposite ends thereof and extends in a plane normal to the axis of the drum. An annular flange l6 surrounds the partition or divider 14 and is fixed thereto, the flange having diametrically opposed portions of the edges thereof at opposite sides of the partition or divider 14 provided with notches 20. Each of the notches 29 has opposed walls 13 and 19 serving as stops.

Means is provided for connecting the device 25 to a fishing line or leader, not shown, which includes a thin rod generally indicated by the numeral 9 folded longitudinally upon itself to provide, at one end thereof, an eye 24 adapted to receive the fishing line or leader, the opposite end portions 26 of the folded rod being extended from said eye in longitudinal contact with one another.

The contacting portions 26 are extended into diverging portions 28, Figures 2 and 3, which are further extended into parallel portions 30, the portions 30 being engaged in the notches 21. Each of the portions 30 terminates in the spring coil 36. One of the coils 36 is disposed in the body at one side of the partition 14 and the other of the coils 36 being disposed in the body 10 at the other side of the partition 14-.

The means for attaching the body 10 to a fishing line or leader includes a length of spring wire bent to form at the intermediate point a spring coil 34 with a pair of legs 32 projecting substantially in parallel relation therefrom, one of the legs 32 lying along and abutting one of the portions 30 and welded thereto, and the other of the legs 32 lying along and abutting the other of the portions 30 and welded thereto.

By reason of this arrangement, it is apparent that the legs 32 will not only urge the portions 30 inwardly toward one another and toward a plane through the center of the drum, but will also urge the spring coils 36 inwardly toward the partition 14, thus keeping the convolutions of said spring coils in closely spaced relation.

It will be noted, in this regard, that the arrangement also causes the outer ends of the respective spring coils 36 to be, in elfect, anchored to the body 25.

The convolutions of the spring coils 36 have an inner diameter substantially greater than the outer diameter of the drum 10, the purpose of this arrangement being to permit the spring coils to be contracted during use of the trolling device.

The free or inner ends of the spring coils 36 are integrally formed with relatively elongated, straight torsion arms 38, said torsion arms being projected laterally in opposite directions from the body 25, as shown in full lines in Figure 1.

The torsion arms 33, normally, will be engaged against the stops 19, under the tendency of the spring coils 36 to expand.

Soldered or otherwise rigidly secured to the respective torsion arms 38 are hooks 40, said hooks being spaced longitudinally of their associated arms 38, and being extended in a direction away from the eye 24, the hooks being disposed in the plane of swinging movement of the torsion arms.

As shown in Figure 1, the torsion arms 38 are adapted to be resiliently and yieldably swingable from the position in which they engage the wall or stop 19 to a position of engagement with the opposite wall or stop 18 against the yielding action of the arms or to the dotted line positions shown in Figure 1. Thus, when the trolling device is in use, an obstruction encountered by either arm 38 would cause said arm to yield freely in a direction away from the eye 24, until the obstruction has been passed. Thereafter, the spring coils 36, which will have been placed under increased tension on swinging of the arms 38 to their dotted line positions, wouid expand, returning the arms to their normal, full line positions.

Either arm 38, of course, can yield independently of the other.

The stops 18, as will be noted, limit movement of the arms 38 in the direction of their dotted line positions, thus causing said arms to be disposed in positions in which they are substantially parallel to the path of movement of the trolling device, when the arms 38 have been swung away from their normal positions to the maximum extent against stops 18.

It is also to be noted that the hooks 40 can be of any desired type, and can be either conventional hooks or hooks of the conventional Weedless type. Whatever type of hook is used, it is desirable, of course, that the hooks be disposed entirely in the plane of movement of the respective arms 38, thus to prevent the hooks from fouling on weeds or under water obstructions.

It is considered to be an important characteristic of the invention that the device can be manufactured at relatively low cost, considering the benefits to be obtained from the use thereof, with the line attaching means, including legs 32 and portions 30, being so disposed as to confine the spring coils 36 within the spaces at opposite sides of the divider 14, thereby to assure the proper functioning of said spring coils at all times.

It is believed apparent that the invention is not necessarily confined to the specific use or uses thereof described above, since it may be utilized for any purpose to which it may be suited. Nor is the invention to be necessarily limited to the specific construction described and illustrated, since such construction is only intended to be illustrative of the principles of operation and the means presently devised to carry out said principles, it being considered that the invention comprchends any minor change in construction that may be permitted within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a trolling device, a drum having opposed ends, a partition formed upon the periphery of the drum medially between the opposite ends thereof and extending in a plane normal to the axis of the drum, an annular llange surrounding said partition and fixed thereto, diametrically opposed portions of the edges of said flange at opposite sides of the partition having notches therein, each of said notches having opposed walls and serving as stops, torsion arms comprising resilient coils circumposcd on the drum at opposite sides of said partition and arm portions projecting from the coils in position in said notches, the coils serving to normally and yieldably position said arm portions against one of said walls of the notches with said arm portions in longitudinal alignment with each other, said arm portions being swingable from the position of normal engagement with said one wall to a position of engagement with the opposite one of the walls against the yielding action of said arm portions, fishhooks on said arm portions, and fishing line attaching means secured to the drum and projecting radially therefrom.

2. In a trolling device according to claim 1 wherein the fishing line attaching means comprises legs positioned across opposite ends of the drum and said flange, the drum ends and said flange ends having notches formed therein for receiving said legs, with the legs retaining the torsion arm coils in place on the drum, and contractile means extending between said legs and yieldably holding the legs in the notches.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 534,682 Burgess Feb. 26, 1895 625,742 Cartier May 30, 1899 627,015 Schlaebitz June 13, 1899 1,120,870 Ward Dec. 15, 1914 1,257,907 Martin Feb. 26, 1918 2,408,593 Barber Oct. 1, 1946 2,421,466 Schenavar June 3, 1947 2,615,275 De Mello Oct. 28, 1952 

